Drilling rig



Aug. 20, 1929.

G. vKRELI. ET Al.

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DRILLNG'RIG Filed Feb. 28, 1927 8 sheets-sheet 5 w INVENTORS Gea/'e /fre// Aug. 2o, 1929.A

G. KRELL ET AL 1,725,458

DRILLING RIG Filed Feb. 28, 1927 8 Sheets-SheetI ,6

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.0 @cor e re// 6L/y Mar/'nef BY ATTORNEY Aug. 20, 1929. G. KRELL ET AL. 1,725,458

DRILLING RIG Filed Feb. 28. 1927 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENToRs n 6u .Ma/79 ef ATTOR'NEY Aug. zo, 1929. G. KRELL ETAL 1,725,458

DRILLING RIG Filed Feb. v28. 1927 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 ATTORNY Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE KRELL AND GUY M. MARTINET, OF SAPULPA, OKLAHOMA; SAID MARTINET ASSIGNOR TO SAID KRELL.

DRILLING RIG.

Application filed February 28, 1927. Serial Nfo. 171,409.

Our invention relates to rotary well drilling apparatus and more particularly to the turntable element of such apparatus.

In the practice of drilling oil wells with rotary apparatus, the principal operative units which constitute a complete rig are a rpower unit, a draw works which is operated therefrom and which embodies a hoisting drum, and a` turntable which is positioned over the well hole and operable by a chain belt or other connect-ion to the draw works and which has for its purpose the imparting of rotation to a grief stem, a string of drill pipe supported by the grief stem, and ia drill bit attached to the lower end of the drill pipe. i lVhile drilling is actually in progress with the drill bit rotating and cutting a passage downward through the various earth formations toward the oil sand, the drill pipe to which the drill bit is attached and the grief stem which serves to support the drill pipe and the drill bit will move downwardly with the cutting progress of the drill bit since the grief stem is so engaged by the turntable as to be slidable therethrough.

A grief stem is of such length as to permit drilling progress of suflicient extent so that when the lower limit of its downward travel relative to the turntable is reached, it may, together with the string of drill pipe, be withdrawn suiliciently to allow another joint of drill pipe to be set in between the lower end of the stem and the upper joint of the string of drill pipe.

-In order to. insert an additional length of drill pipe it 1s common practice to employ a separate clamping means to engage the upper end of a string of drill pipe to support the same while an additional length of drill pipe is being attached. The foregoing method requires. considerable extra manipulation and hoisting operations and the cxpenditure of considerable time and energy since the clamping operations are in the most part manually performed.

It is primarily for the purpose of overcoming these objectionable features that this invention is intended and this we have accomplished by the provision of a clamping means which is embodied in the table and means mounted on the table whereby steam pressure may be used to actuate the clamp.

By using a steam pressure actuated clamp in this manner it becomes possible to position the control valve therefor at a more convenient location and preferably in close proximity to the control levers of the other apparatus, thus tending to clear the platform about the table of` such obstructions and to centralize the control of all the apparatus.

In accomplishing the above named and other objects of the invention hereinafter described, we have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is al detail perspective View of part of a rotary drilling rig comprising a turntable employing our improvements.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the table. y

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the table.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4 4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5 5, Fig. 2, showing the drill pipe clamp in functional position.

Fig. G is a similar view illustrating the clamp open relative to the drill stem or Kelly joint.

"F ig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the clamp and clamp operating mechanism on the line 7-7, Fig. 2, showing the clamp s.

jaws in gripping position.

Fig. 8 is a similar View showing the pipe j uws in open position.

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9 9 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 10 is a view of the clamp mechanism on the line 10-10, Fig. 9.

Fig. l1 is a detail perspective View of the clamp jaw frames in spaced relation.

i Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view of the clamp jaw operating or toggle levers.4

Fig. 13 is a'detail perspective view of one.

of the vclamp sets including the frame, the jaw and a slip.

Fig. 14 is a central vertical section of a slip frame.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of portions of the clamp in disassembled but relative relation, particularly illustrating the toggle block and its connecting elements, the clamp frame being severed to permit such disassembled illustration.

Fig. 16 is a detail perspective view of the Also journaled on the posts 6 is a drive shaft 7 connected with the drum shaft by high and low speed sprocket chains 8 and 9, run over fixed sprocket wheels 10-11 on the drive shaft and loosel sprocket wheels 12-13 on the drum shaft, the sprocket wheels on the drum shaft having the usual clutch connection with their shaft, as indicated by the levers l14 and 15', 'both operable from adjacent the operators position onthe floor.

The driving shaft is operable from a source of power through transmission indi* cated by the chain belt 16. The drum is prolvided .with the usual brake bands 17, an-

chored at one end by yokes 19 and connected at the other end with a crank 20 under control of a lever 21, also located at the operators position.

Located centrally on the derrick Hoor is a turntable platform 22', which fits within an opening in the derrick floor and is supported *by the usual derrick joists 23. The turntable comprises the usual circular table 24 having a depending annular gear ring 25, meshing bearings 28 on the table platform 22 and provided with a sprocket wheel 29 whereby the table is operated from the drive shaft 7 i through a chain belt 30, running over a sprocket wheel 31 on the draw works drive shaft, under control of the clutch 32, which is operable by a lever mechanism 33 at the `op'erators position.

'The table is rovided with the usual bushv ing 34 for driving a drill stem 35, supported by the usual hook A36 from a rope or cable 37 run over a sheave (not shown) at the top of the derrick vand connected with the wind- -ing drum 3 inthe usual manner.

Interposed in the drill stem is the usualV swivel head 38 through which the drilling fluidis supplied to the stem through a hose 39, as in ordinary drilling operation.

#The parts heretofore described are commonto any rotary drilling rig and have been hereinlillustrated in order 4to impart a betbushing 44 in a groove 45 on the table platform 22. In accordance with our improvements, however, we provide the table with oil reservoirs 46 connected throughbores 47 with the roller bearings for lubrication, the reservoirs being closed by plugs 48 to protect the lubricant.

In the outer face of the jaw ring 40 of the rotary table we provide a circumferential groove 49 receiving keeper rollers 50 (Fig. 3) rotatable on studs 51 on standards 52 on the table platform to anchor the table against vert-ical and lateral displacement under the operation hereinafter described but without interfering with its free rotation.

In accordance with our invention the table platform 22 is provided with an inset shoulder 53 (Figs. 5.and 6) and supported on said shoulder is a divided clamp housing 54 (Fig. 11) comprising side walls 55 and end walls 56, the side and end walls having laterally turned shoulders 57 for support on the table platform shoulders 53 and the end walls 56 being of irregular, conical, downwardly converging formation for the purpose presently described.

The corners of the clamp housing are chamfered at 58 to fit within the correspond ingly contoured opening in the table 'platform in order to hold the housing against rotation and to effect and preserve alignment of the gear racks `hereinafter mentioned. The clamp housings are slotted at 60 to provide ways for the gear racks and sockets for the slip frames, and the inner faces of the side walls 55 are provided with irregular, vertical grooves 61 forming cam tracks 62 for jaw trunnions and with longiwith a pinion 26 on a shaft 27 journaled in tudinal guide grooves 63 for toggle block guide studs, presently mentioned.

Located within each half of the clamp housing is a jaw 64 (Fig. 13) comprising 'a semi-circular, vertical socket 65 provided with an inwardly directed shoulder 66 'at it-s lower end for seating a slip frame, the upper edge of the jaw having a recess 67 with a socket 68 in its base and the shoulder or flange 66 having a registering socket 69 for receiving the anchor pins on the slip frame. At each side of the jaw is a trunnion 70 and a cam stud 71. Interposed between the end of the jaw and the corresponding side of the jaw housing is a'toggle block 72, having pivot studs 73 extending laterally from both faces at its lower end (Figs. 4 and 15)7 the lower end of the block being located in the adjacent slot 60 Iat the end of the clamp housing and the studs 73 being movable in the horizontal grooves 63 in the side walls ofthe clamp housing and in corresponding grooves 74 in the ends of the end walls whereby the studs 7 3 may anchor the toggle blocks and define travel of the toggle block under the. conditions presently described.

In the inner face of the outer end of each toggle block is a socket 75, seating the trunnion at the adjacent end of the jaw 64, and extending from the outer face of the block and offset relative to the socket is a trunnion 76, which is projected into and adapted for t-ravel within the cam groove 61 in the end of the clamp housing. lVith this arrangement, when the cam block is rocked on the variable axis defined by the trunnion studs 7 3, the block is given the irregular vertical travel defined by the cam groove 61 and the jaw 64 is given the vertical and lateral movement defined by the cam groove.

In order to prevent the jaw from turning on its trunnion during the movement just described andto hold the slips carried by the jaw in vert-ical alignment, we provide the jaw with the cam studs 71 and the toggle blocks 72 each with a bowed edge 77 and yreversely curved lip 78, forming a cam track over which the stud 71 on the jaw 64 is caused to travel during the opening and closing movements of the jaw to maintain t-he jaw perpendicular during such opening and closing movements.

Referring now to the means for opening and closing the clamp, 79 (Figs. 7 and 8) designates rack bars slidable in slots 80 in the ends of the clamp housing and having teeth 81 on their upper edges, engalgeable with rack segments 82 on hubs 83 of toggle block actuating arms 84 pivoted on p1ns 85 on the end members of the clamp housing. At their free ends the arms 84 are provided with slots S6 within which the pins 87 on the lower inner corners of the toggle blocks are slidably projected, cotter pins or the like 88 being mounted on the pins to retain the arms on the blocks without interfering with the automat-ic adjustment of the arms to the blocks. v

A toggle block with its connecting elements just described is located at each corner of the housing and four individual rackbars arev provided. At their outer ends the rack bars are provided with rack teeth 90, meshing with gear segments 91 on transverse shafts 92, journaled on the table. platform 22. Fixed on the shafts 92 at one side of the table are pinions 93, meshing with racks 94 slidable in guides 95 on the table platform.

The rack bars 94 are in longitudinal alignment and provided at their inner ends With rod-like members 96, which extend through stulling boxes 97 in the ends of the pump cylinder 98, which is also mounted on t-he table platform, and are provided with pistons 99 for reciprocation within a common chamber within the cylinder.V

Opening from each end of the cylinder is a port 100, and from the center 0f the cylinder is a port 101. Communicating with the end ports 100 is a steam line 102 leading to the port 103 of a valve 104.` Opening from the intermediate port 101 of cylinder 98 is a line 105 leading to a port 106 of the valve 104 so that either the two end ports or the single central port may beI placed in communication with a steam supply through the valve, according to manipulation of a valve lever.

The valve 104 comprises a chamber 107. A slide 108 in the valve chamber' is provided With ports 109 and 110, adapted for separate communication with the ports 103 and 106 and having an exhaust channel 111 adapted for establishing communication between either of the ports 103 and 106 with an exhanst outlet port 112. The slide 108 is operable through a rod 113, extended laterally from the valve through a stutling box 114 and guided in a bracket 115 constituting an extension of the valve body.

Pivoted on a standard 116 on the valve body is a lever 117,having pin and slot connection at 118 with the valve rod 113 and provided with a latch 119 cooperative with quadrantnotches on the standards 116 to retain' the valve in either set position. The steam chamber 107 of the valve 104 may connect with any source of steam supply.

Referring back to the construction of the clamp, 120 designates a slip frame, semicylindrical in form, to fit Within the socket 65 of a jaw 64 and provided at its lower end with an anchor stud 121 and at its upper end with a lug 122, having a depending anchor st-ud 123 adapted to seat Within the socket 68 in t-he recess 67 at the top of the clamp aw. The inner face of the frame 120 is recessed to receive slips 124, here shown to be two in number although others may be provided, each of the slips having an anchor' stud 125 on its lower end adapted to seat in a socket 126 in the lower flange 127 of the slip frame and a stud 128 on its upper end adapted to tit wit-hin an anchor slot 129 at the top of thel frame.

Plates130 are bolted to the top flange of the frame and areprovided with recesses 131 for the upper slip anchor studs in order to hold the slips in place after the plat-es are applied, the sockets 126 and the slots 129 being of sulliciently larger diameter than the slip anchor studs in order to permit free pivotal movement of the slip anchor studs and flexibility in the slips to permit the slips to adjust themselves to a drill pipe. Each of the slip frames is provided at its upper end with a handle 132 whereby the frame may be let into and removed from the table.

Assuming the parts to be constructed and assembled as described, that the drilling has been ,in operation and that it is desired to add a joint to the drill pipe:

The operator lifts the drill pipe until the collar on the top joint of the pipe is exposed above the table platform. He then unscrews the part of the drilling apparatus commonly termed the Kelly joint and more particularly the grief stem of the joint from the drill pipe and sets such Kelly joint to one side so that the cable and hook may be employed for connecting the new joint of pipe. It is apparent that when the Kelly joint is disconnected from the lower drilling pipe, some means must be provided for supporting the pipe. IVith the rig equipped with our lil invention, under the above conditions when the pipe is raised and before the Kelly joint is disconnected, the operator closes the clamp onto the pipe by turning steam through the pipe 102 into the ends of the cylinder 98 to force the pistons to the center of the cylinder. The clamp has, prior to this time, been open, as illustrated in Fig. of the drawings. When the pistons 99 are shifted inwardly as described, the rack bars ends ofthe clamp housing, moving the clamp jaws inwardly so that they eventually meet about the pipe, the trunnion studs 73 on the blocks shifting longitudinally in their grooves 63 in the clamp frame to'permit the lateral variation in position of the clamp jawsl during their vertical shifting movef ment.

It has been found in actual practice that a gripping angle of is the most eiiicient for clamps of this type. Consequently, we extend the cam tracks in the groove 61 on the clamp housing at such angle so that movement resistant to the weight of the pipe is on a 70 incline but the incline is in the mounting of the clamp jaws rather than in the contour of the jaw or slip. v

In order to preserve the vertical travel of the jaws and slips, the studs 71 on the clamp jaws are in constant engagement with the edges of the toggle blocks so that, irrespective of the vertical and lateral movement of the clamp j aws, the jaws remain perpendicular, thereby maintaining a through opening about the pipe, the guideway slots 61 being offset at their upper ends to provide a quick throw of the jaws toward or from the pipe at the upper limit of their closing or opening movement.

When the additional pipe joint has been applied and the drilling is to be resumed, the Kelly j oint is connected with the new joint of pipe and the pipe released by shifting ofthe valve to admit steam through the pipe 105 to spread the pistons and the clamp elements by van operation reverse to the closing operation heretofore described.

Thevalve communicates the pipe 102 with exhaust simultaneously with commimication of the pipe 105 with the live steam in ac cordance with the practice with valves of this general type.

Vith our construction, repairs and substitutions may be easily and quickly made, as should one of the slips become worn, the slip frame may be removed from its jaw and the slip replaced in the frame without the necessity for extensive dismantling of the table, the slip frames being provided with handles 132 which normally seat in sockets 133 in the under face of the table bushing 34.

It is apparent, therefore, that we have provided a table .wherein the drilling operations may be effected as usual and whereby the addition of new joints of drilling pipe may be effected more quickly and safely than with the types of apparatus heretofore in use.

While we have described the use of our invention in connection with the addition of pipe sections, it is apparent that the same method is employed in the pulling of the pipe, the clamp being always effective when lower joints are to be suspended in the well irrespective of the operation on the upper joints.

Vhat we claim and -desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus of the character described including a clamp housing, toggle blocks having variable pivotal mounting on the housing, aws having variable trunnion support on said blocks, and means for actuating the blocks to open and close the jaws.

2. Apparatus of the character described including a clamp housing, toggle blocks having variable pivot mounting on the housing, jaws having variable trunnion support on said blocks, means for actuating the blocks to open and close the jaws, and means on kthe jaws and blocks for retaining the jaws perpendicular during their opening and closing travel.

3. In apparatus of the character described, a clamp Vhousing including inclined trunnion grooves, blocks having iioating pivotal support in said housing and having trunnions movable'in said grooves, jaws pivotally mounted on said blocks, and means for actuating the blocks toeffect opening and closing movement of the jaws.

4; In apparatus of the character described, a clamp housing including inclined trun nion grooves, blocks having iioating pivotal support inv said housing and having trunnions Vmovable in said grooves, jaws pivotally mounted on said blocks, means for actuating the blocks to effect opening and closing movement of the jaws, and means on the blocks and on the jaws for retaining the jaws perpendicular during their opening and closing travel.

5. In Vapparatus of the character. described, a clamp housing including inclined guideways and horizontal grooves, blocks having pivot studs rotatably and slidably moimted in said grooves, trunnions on said blocks movable in said guideways, jaws pivotally mounted on said blocks, and means f'or actuating the blocks to effect opening and closing movement of the jaws.

6. In apparatus of` the character described, a clamp housing including inclined guideways and horizontal grooves, blocks having pivot studs rotatably and slidably mounted in said grooves, trunnions on said blocks movable in said guideways, jaws pivotally mounted on said blocks, means for actuating the blocks to effect opening and closing movement of the jaws, the blocks having cam faces, and means on the jaws engaging said faces to retain the jaws perpendicular during their opening and closing travel.

7. Apparatus of the character described including clamping aws mounted for opening and closing movement, mechanism for actuating the jaws comprising rack and pinion mechanism, a piston connected with the rack element of said mechanism, and means controlling How of fluid to the pistons tor effecting operation of' the rack.

S. In apparatus of the character described, a clamp housing including guideways, trunnion blocks on the housing having means cooperating with the guideways to restrict movement of the blocks, jaws adjustably mounted on said blocks, reciprocating racks, arms connected with said blocks having pinion connection with the racks to effect opening and closing movement of the jaws upon reciprocation of the racks, and means for actuating the racks.

9. In apparatus of the character described, a clamp housing including guideways, trunnion blocks on the housing having means co-operating with the guideways to restrict movement of the blocks, jaws adjustably mounted on said blocks, reciprocating racks, arms connected with said blocks having pinion connection with the racks to efl'ect opening and closing movement of the jaws upon reciprocation of.' the racks, means f'or actuating the racks comprising a` cylinder, opposed pistons in said cylinder, racks connected with said pistons, pinion mechanism connecting the last-named racks with the first-named racks, means for delivering a fluid, .medium to the cylinder between the pistons to eflect spread ofl the pistons and operation of the jaws in one direction, means for delivering fluid medium to the ends of the cylinder to effect operation of the jaws in the opposite direction, and means for selectively controlling the supply of fluid to the cylinder.

l0. In a clamp of the character described, a housing comprising paired inclined guideways and paired horizontal guideways, blocks having studs pivotally and slidably mounted in the horizontal guideways and trunnions movable in the inclined guideways, aws pivotally mounted on said blocks, slips removably mounted on said jaws, and means for actuating the blocks to effect opening and closing of the jaws.

Il. In a clamp of' t-he character described, a housing comprising paired inclined guideways and paired horizontal guideways, blocks having studs pivotally and slidably mounted in the horizontal guideways and trunnions movable in the inclined guideways, jaws pivotally mounted on said blocks, slips removably mounted on said jaws, and means for actuating the blocks to effect opening and closing of the jaws, the inclined guideways having laterally directed offsets at their upper ends to effect accelerated final opening and initial closing movements of the jaws.

12. In a clamp of the character described, a housing comprising paired inclined guideways and paired horizontal guideways, blocks having studs pivotally and slidably mounted in the horizontal guideways and trunnions movable in the inclined guideways, jaws pivotally mounted on said blocks, slips removably mounted on said jaws, means for actuating the blocks to effect opening and closing of the jaws, the blocks having cam surfaces, and studs on the jaws engageable with said cam surfaces to maintain the jaws perpendicular during their opening and closing travel.

13. In a clamp ofI the. character described, a pair of` jaws, means mounting the jaws for opening and closing movement, each of the jaws having a vertical socket with a hase flange provided with a pin socket and a recess provided with a pin socket, a slip frame seatable on said flange having a pin for said fiange socket, a lug on the frame seatable in said recess and having a pin for said recess socket, and slips removably mounted in said frame.

14. In a clamp of the character described, paired jaws, means mounting the jaws for opening and closing travel, a slip frame mounted in each of said jaws comprising top and bottom flanges, one having a socket and the other an open end slot, slips removably mounted in each frame, each comprising end pins for seating in said sockets and open end slots respectively, and means on the frame anchoring the slip pins to retain the slips in the frame.

15. In a clamp of the character described, a housing including side walls each provided with a guideway and zi second guideing pin and slot connection with the blocks, way arranged at an angle thereto, toggle and pinion and rack mechanism for operat- 10 blocks having studs pivotally and slidably ing said arms.

mounted in the {i1-st mentioned guideways, In testimony whereof We affix our signatrunnions on said blocks movable in the tures.

second mentioned guideways, jaws having tiunnion `connection with said blocks, arms GEORGE KRELL. pivotally mounted on the housing and hav- GUY M. MARTINET. 

